A Call to Action: Stepping Up Our Game for the Great Food Transformation

Last October I went to the Stockholm Food Summit, where the 2025 EAT-Lancet report was being presented, the energy was infectious. Led by the brilliant Gunhild Stordalen, this amazing gathering brought together 700 change-makers from all over the planet. I left feeling deeply inspired.

The event was a whirlwind, and a great time to reflect. For us at Ample, reflection means a clear directive: Like everyone in the world of food we all need to step up our game. We aren't alone in this mission; many people are working toward sustainability and change. Food is central to all of us—it connects us. It is a form of medicine, a concept we've strayed from over the last few decades. The overwhelming feeling at the Summit was one of excitement and possibility—we can absolutely achieve this necessary transformation. That has extended to the last few months where we see many great initiatives taking place like the School Lunch Project, Benas is How and the Plantbased Health Professionals Collective amongst many others.

The organisation of EAT was excellent, with every detail incorporating the intentions of EAT and its community. The food itself was a highlight, from ancient local grains to exemplary dishes by world-class chefs. A personal standout was the workshop by Rasmus Munk, chef of The Alchemist in Copenhagen. He presented a simple but profound dish of rapeseeds, a perfectly good and very tasty plant-based protein alternative that is normally left over after harvesting and usually used for animal feed. This single ingredient could potentially replace 50% of all meat protein globally. My mind is still boggling over the potential of that discovery!

Our Role in the EAT-Lancet Strategies

We're incredibly happy to be part of the food transformation with Ample, our team, and our partners. Our work is directly aligned with the EAT-Lancet Five Strategies for a Great Food Transformation.

The 5 Strategies and Ample's Contribution

1. Shift toward healthy diets: This requires proportionally more plant-based foods, doubling the intake of vegetables, nuts, and legumes, and halving sugar consumption.

   • Ample's ACTION: As a marketplace that helps businesses buy high-quality fresh, frozen, and cooked produce at great prices from farm surplus, we are actively making more nutritious, plant-rich foods accessible. We are re-integrating traditional, healthy foods into the supply chain. Our new Ample Kitchen will produce millions of nutritious meals for schools and hospitals using this surplus food.

     
     

2. Move agricultural priorities from high-quantity production to producing healthy food, fitting into a healthy diet.

   • Ample's ACTION: We source from farmers in specific farm locations. By creating a stable market for surplus and local produce, we help farmers focus on growing foods that enhance biodiversity and nutrition. We support local sourcing, which provides fresher, higher-quality goods with a smaller carbon footprint.

     
     

3. Promote sustainable intensification in agriculture: This means stepping up efficiency, improving yields, and significantly reducing global GHG emissions.

   • Ample's ACTION: Our focus on saving farm surplus food from going to waste helps to maximize the output of current agricultural practices.

     
     

4. Strong and coordinated governance of land and oceans: This includes a commitment to zero land-use expansion and improved ocean management, including the expansion of aquaculture.

   • Ample's ACTION: By drastically reducing farm gate suprlus, we decrease the pressure to convert natural ecosystems and forests into new agricultural land, reinforcing the goal to feed humanity on existing croplands only.

     
     

5. At least halve food losses and waste, in line with SDG 12.3. This involves applying new technologies, value chain cooperation, and educating consumers.

   • Ample's ACTION: This is our core mission. We are creating an efficient supply chain where schools, hospitals, caterers, and manufacturers can purchase food sourced from farm surplus that has been saved from waste. Turning the farm gate surplus into nutritious and delicious meal components.

The food system is vital to both human health and planetary boundaries. We believe that by focusing on our part of the transformation—halving food waste and using the surplus to create meal components—we can contribute to the shift that will preserve our planet and improve the health of billions of people.

If you'd like to dive deeper into the science behind this global movement, you can find a summary of the report here: https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet/summary-report.

How do you think your business or your own diet can align with the Great Food Transformation?